Carrie Underwood's Album Reclaims Country Chart
Call her The Unsinkable Carrie Underwood.
The Oklahoma songbird's Some Hearts -- 70 weeks after its release -- bobs back to the top of Billboard's country albums chart this week, sinking Gary Allan's Greatest Hits to second place. Underwood's Saturday (March 24) appearance on Saturday Night Live can't improve her chart position, but it may enable her to keep it a while longer.
Lined up behind Allan's album are the usual chart barnacles -- Rascal Flatts' Me and My Gang (No. 3), the Dixie Chicks' Taking the Long Way (No. 4) and Taylor Swift's self-titled debut (No. 5).
Kenny Chesney's "Beer in Mexico" stays at No. 1 on Billboard's country singles ranking for the second week, and Cledus T. Judd returns with his first chart single since 2004.
Forever Country, a various artists collection, makes the longest leap, advancing from No. 68 to No. 58. Albums returning to the chart are Danielle Peck's eponymous package (No. 71), Tracy Lawrence's Then and Now: The Hits Collection (No. 74) and Beverly Mitchell's self-titled release (No. 75). Lawrence's new album, For the Love, edges up from No. 25 to No. 24 after debuting seven weeks ago at No. 6.
Tim McGraw's "Last Dollar (Fly Away)" remains at No. 2 for the second week. Rounding out the Top 5 songs are Underwood's "Wasted" (moving from No. 6 to No. 3), Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy" (at No. 4 for the third week) and Martina McBride's "Anyway" (which jumps from No. 7 to No. 5).
Brad Paisley's "Ticks" springs from No. 30 to No. 20 just three weeks after its release, and Rodney Atkins' "These Are My People" strides from No. 57 to No. 44 in its second week out. Sara Evans "Missing Missouri" re-enters the chart at No. 54.
Judd's "Illegals" is the highest-debuting song, coming in at No. 58, and Flynnville Train makes its bow at No. 59 with "Last Good Time."
We can only promise you facts -- not excitement. Maybe next week.